The record-selling Topps baseball card goes to … Dr. Anthony Fauci?
When you think of top-selling baseball cards names like Derek Jetter, Mike Trout, Mickey Mantle and Jackie Robinson comes to mind. What isn’t a name you’d closely associate with baseball card sales is Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for the United States.
But this is 2020 and really anything is possible.
The Topps baseball card for Dr. Fauci was only on sale for 24 hours when it broke the company’s record. The card broke the all-time print record by selling 51,512 cards. The only reason this is possible is if Dr. Fauci bought 51,511 cards and his mom bought the other one.
NEW. RECORD. 💥
— Topps (@Topps) July 27, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci's #ToppsNOW card sets an all-time high print run record, clocking in at 51,512 cards! pic.twitter.com/sbZtdVX6MC
“We’re excited by the popularity of Dr. Fauci’s Topps NOW card,” Emily Kless, Topps communications manager said in an email to USA Today. “Topps prides itself on capturing the unique moments of the MLB season, one baseball card at a time, and Dr. Fauci’s inclusion in this year’s Topps NOW cards is just one way in which we are highlighting the uniqueness of the 2020 season.”
Dr. Fauci threw out a terribly awful first pitch
Dr. Fauci threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Nationals season opener and the pitch itself was so hilariously bad that it really summed up how the United States disease control protocol is doing.
It’s no wonder his card sold out so fast, it’s going to be the ultimate keepsake to represent 2020. Just frame it next to your COVID-19 mask and hand sanitizer.
Oh, and the previous record-holder was Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., which sold 19,396 copies. Yeah, we were shocked too.